I feel quite excited about writing this review I have read so many fiercely opposing opinions on…read morethe Tuscan Kitchen in Rye that I am itching to join the fight, and I'll tell you now - I am firmly flying the Tuscan flag! We booked a table courtesy of a recommendation, and from reading several very glowing reviews. The trattoria (NOT restaurant) is located on a quaint cobbled street in the charming Sussex town of Rye and is in fact housed within what used to be a very olde worlde teashop! This incongruous setting is your first indication that any preconceived ideas should be left at the door. You're in for an unexpectedly wonderful experience. Looking beyond the low beams and memories of cream teas and doilies, the trattoria is simply arranged with wooden tables, paper napkins and lovely blue glasses from Italy. Don't expect interior design - it is all about the food (although the plates and mugs have all been imported from Italy and had me lusting after them). Loving Italian food I was very excited about the meal and the intoxicating smell of truffles as you walk through the door only heightened the anticipation. Jen, the charming owner, brought us some wine (we just asked her to choose - it was excellent) and some bread and oil to eat while we decided what to order. This was the first teaser for our taste buds. The olive oil had an incredible taste and was made with olives from their own grove in Italy. Ask nicely and they might sell you some - it really is worth it! After salivating over the menu it was time to order. Everything looked delicious but I plumped for Insalata Invernale (a winter salad of pear, blue cheese, walnuts and Tuscan honey) followed by Ravioli Porcini (homemade ravioli in wild mushroom sauce) and finished off with Pollo All 'Aceto Balsamico (strips of chicken in Chianti and aged balsamic, grilled with radichio and truffle oil). My Better Half chose the Antipasto followed by Tuscan meatballs, culminating with beef fillet with a white truffle sauce. It was clear we were in for the long haul; but we were ready! Our food was incredible. It took its time in arriving but that was no matter as we were enjoying the Tuscan wine, the atmosphere and our host's conversation. We really felt as though we were enjoying a home cooked meal in their kitchen in Italy (hence the name of the restaurant as Jen pointed out!). The salad was delicious, and confirmed what I had heard that Franco and Jen source their ingredients from either Tuscany or quality local producers - the flavours and textures really were superb. The antipasto was also great, and could have easily fed two. Before our pasta course arrived we were treated to some truffle honey with Italian hard cheese. This is possibly the most amazing thing I have ever eaten. It felt so decadent, like you were eating something incredibly expensive, I think I'm going to name it liquid gold! Swooning over the truffle honey happily occupied the time waiting for our pasta. Every dish is made to order and comes to your table piping hot, in a reassuring way, letting you know it has been made for you and you alone. It's no surprise that the pasta dishes were delicious but we were both getting a little full and made a mental note that next time we come we'll skip the pasta course and head straight to the meat (unless we haven't eaten for two days previously). Again, no surprise for guessing but our meat course was sensational. Better Half managed to eat all of his, but I have to admit I was a little defeated by my delicious chicken (we had only just finished a full English Breakfast a few hours before)! At this point I should also point out that the "closed" sign was put up on the door. There were only 3 tables being served but Franco and Jen know when to stop. With only Franco in the kitchen they just can't serve up the quality food that they take pride in if the trattoria is overly crowded. There were no complaints from us - it felt like a lock-in in a secret, member's only restaurant! Desert looked enticing but was flatly refused by both of us. Better Half still had room for some 40% grappa though, so it was clear who was driving back to London. Talking of London, I can't stress enough that the quality of food we enjoyed in Rye completely surpassed any experiences of Italian food I have had in London. The prices are also a nice change from London (particularly considering the generous portions), with the meat course averaging at £14.95. In order to digest our food we sat and chatted to Jen and Franco for sometime about their business. They've received a little bit of negative press from customers who have not understood the concept of the Tuscan Kitchen, so here are a few tips! Arrive hungry, with time to spare. It is part of the Slow Food Movement which should give you a clue to ethos behind the food. Don't feel obliged to eat every course - unless of cause you have a huge appetite in which case lucky you! Sit back,

This restaurant is a GEM tucked into a small spot in Rye. The couple who owns it brought their time…read morein Italy to the streets of Rye and we couldn't be more lucky. The pasta is extraordinary. The ribboleta is worthy of Italian Grandma approval. And their wine list is unique and took us back to our time in Florence. A MUST if you love great italian food

A cute shop boasting to be the oldest tearoom in rye. The afternoon tea is standard fare, one kind…read moreof sandwich on squishy bread, scone, and fruit cake. It's disappointing to be given fruit cake with so many other appetizing desserts in the front display. But it does pair well with the tea. Service is friendly and the place inside is charming.

I love pies. I celebrate pie day. And British pie week. I think pie is one of the greatest gifts…read moreBritain has ever given me. So I was quite happy to find Simon the Pieman. I will even disregard the fact that it sells more cakes than pies (I don't like cakes but if you're into sweet things this is probably a good place to go!). First, it's quite a lovely little restaurant/tea room. They even have a fireplace! It's just near the church, very good place to stop for lunch if you're visiting Rye. Plus it's fairly cheap. Pies are £6.95 if I remember correctly, then add £2 for chips or £3 for salad (they don't kind with the salad, it's like tomatoes and salad and corn and peppers and alfalfla if I am right about what alfalfa actually is). They serve local beers and good smoothies (and also orangeade but it's not homemade and I do not recommend it AT ALL, it's just some kind of Fanta and it made me sad). We had fish pie (delish, with fresh fish and some leeks inside I think! Yum!) and chicken-bacon-mushroom pie with a really crunchy pastry. Not the most amazing food I've ever had but very good value for money, charming place and good flavours!

Best fish and chips I've had so far perfectly cooked. Ordered a haddock and a beef onion pie.read more

food was lovely perfect sized portions savaloy didnt taste like rubber salted to perfection highly…read morerecomend really good great place for tourists prices are cheap and lots of places to sit nearbye

+ friendly service + good and fresh food (we got some…read moresandwiches with salad) + not to small servings :-) + free WiFi - a little bit cold to sit at the window, when it is cold outside résumé: I LIKE!

This was one of the best restaurants I've been to here in the UK! Fresh, Quant and right in the…read moremiddle.of beautiful Rye Sussex co. The stilton avo bake is amazing. The cheese-chive scone....absolutely delicious! The tomato and crab soup is a bit fishy but very fresh. Best beer (Romney) around!

Sadly this wonderful business closed, this is an out of date picture as they moved to another…read morepremises before closing 4 years ago.

Some of the best modern Indian cooking anywhere in Europe. Light, fragrant dishes, subtly spiced…read moreand beautifully presented. Exceptionally good value and first rate service

If you find yourself in Rye, England, The Cobbles Tea Room was incredibly charming and well worth a…read morevisit. Nestled off one of the main streets, this small establishment packs a big punch with traditional decor and a tasty afternoon tea menu. Everything from the service to the food and tea were delicious and served for a great pick me up in the middle of touring the town for the day.

Well sometimes you go back to somewhere you loved and the next time you go it's changed or lost its…read morecharm.... We decided that we were long overdue to go back as it's been two years and we were in the area. We'd also heard that the Cobbles is under new management. But don't worry, it's exactly the same! We were welcomed at the door by the new owners who showed us to a table and we proceeded to order loads of food! We decided to go in before the lunchtime rush (11ish) and were the only people there for a good 30 minutes! I had coffee, a cheese scone (you've got to have the cheese scones, they are delicious!), a jacket potato with beans, and then a piece of coffee cake for dessert. Elle had gunpowder tea, a cheese scone (gotta have one! - not gluten free though) a gluten free toasted ham and cheese sandwich and some gluten free chocolate cake! Everything was delicious, the service was excellent, the waiting staff were polite, friendly and helpful. We sat with the sun shining through the door, with little sparrows, robins and other little birds flying up to the door and looking back at us. It was a really wonderful start to a day and I can't recommend them highly enough, they never disappoint and everything is exactly the same as they had been when we last visited. Ate everything before I thought about photographs lol....Can't wait to visit again.....

Tim is hospitality personified- great team, very good prices and excellent food below some of the…read morenicest accommodation in Rye. Set in the heart of Rye Citadel in "The Mint" you will enjoy your visit here as we do.

My husband and I ate here tonight for dinner, having no reservations. I ordered the cod and…read morescallops with pesto and white bean sauce whilst he got the wild boar chop (for wild boar week). I asked for no extra salt to be added to mine and it showed: the fish was quite bland as was the overall pesto sauce. That being said, it was very light and appreciated after a day of drinking and hot chocolate drinks. An annoyance though was the dish was described as having scallops and there was only one scallop with the meal! The cod portion was very good though. My husband LOVED his food, praising the flavour and amount of meat on his plate. Also, he appreciated the full bottle of ketchup given. However, he was only given a butter and not a steak knife and the waitress explained those are never given to customers. Huh?! Still, we overall had a nice experience and would return if in Rye. Decent prices too compared to other places.

Jonathan and the team are well organised. It's a very friendly pub mainly used by locals. They do a…read morecracking Sunday roast and serve local beers and some local wines. Very friendly and safe

Excellent quality food and reasonable prices. Some leather chairs. Was a surprise as from outside…read morelooks fairly ordinary pub.

The staff was VERY accommodating. My cousin is quite chatty so we were running late for our…read morereservation (coming from a wine bar down the lane) and they didn't seem to mind, so long as we ordered quickly. I realize now that we kept those poor people an hour past their closing time. Everyone in my party loved their food/drink. I had the best oysters of my life (3 with a glass of rose bubbly for 10 quid. A must have!) and a half lobster with nice thick cut chips and mayo. We had a lot of wine, so I don't remember a lot, but I do know it was clean, well run, and everything was delicious! I will come back to the UK one day. There is a Southern train stop here in Rye that has connections to the bigger city.

We've been to Fish Cafe many times for anniversaries, birthday dinners, and family meals. Every…read moretime they've made it special with accommodating service and excellent food. Highly recommend if you're in Rye. You will not be disappointed